DESTINY, FATE 1 



EVAN MORGAN 



Destiny, Fate, Lot, Doom, Predestination are ideas com- 

 mon to' every language, indicating a determinate force over 

 life, and giving circumstances the quality of necessity. No 

 more fateful idea than that which Napoleon called destiny 

 and Priestly necessity has ever ruled the thoughts of men. 

 It has figured largely in the lives of the great personalities of 

 human history. Napoleon, Lord Clive, Confucius were con- 

 scious of an unseen force which swept them forward in spite 

 of themselves. 



These words are synonymous, but with certain differ- 

 ences which should be noted and remembered. "Destiny 

 is used of individuals and the final point of their personal 

 history. It is used both of the end to which a person or thing 

 is fore appointed. It involves elements of greatness and 

 immutability. It refers not to the details so much as to* the 

 consummation. One may struggle against one's lot, but 

 destiny is final and irresistible. Spenser says: — 



But who can turn the streams of destiny 

 Or break the chains of strong necessity 

 Which fast is tied to Jove's eternal seat. 



"Fate stands to destiny as an item to a sum, and is 

 employed of the details of life. It is hardly ever used in a 

 favourable sense. Fate is blind. Destiny has a certain 

 amount of foresight. The theist speaks of destiny, the 

 atheist of fate." 



"Doom is the final close of life, regarded as a matter 

 foreordained, and is never used in a happy sense. As Pope 

 says : — 



Ere Hector meets his doom. — Pope" 



The words in use in Chinese as a rule are $r, I£, ^, 

 ^ fo, ^ t^, %g fo. Men have ever been anxious to know what 

 their destiny might be. What span of life is reserved for 

 them ; what lot may be in store : so in the selection of a 



1 Bead before the Society, November 20, 1919. 



